Admissions FAQ
If you have a general question about the application process or studying at UVic, get in touch with your UVic graduate student recruiter.
If you have a specific question about your program or application to UVic, contact our program’s graduate secretary.
General admissions process
We receive 200 to 400 applications each year. Ten to 12 students may be admitted.
Successful applicants normally have an upper second or first class average (e.g., 3.5 on a 4-point scale or a minimum B+) in their recent academic work, with a specialization in psychology. Students with an honour’s degree or equivalent research experience are preferred.
All documents are compiled by Graduate Admissions and Records (GARO), who assess your file once they receive your application fee. They will forward it to our department if your application is complete and meets UVic standards.
Your application will be reviewed by the potential supervisors you indicated in your application. The primary decision-maker will be an individual faculty member. A small committee of faculty members may vet decisions.
Shortly after you apply, GARO will send you an email with your UVic student number, followed by instructions on how to check your application status at .
They will email you once an admission decision has been made and you’ll be notified if anything further is required.
It can take up to 2 months from the time your paperwork has arrived to process your application. It depends on volume, competition and whether it has been retained for further consideration.
Successful applicants normally have an upper second- or first-class average (e.g., 3.5 on a 4-point scale or a minimum B+) in their recent academic work, with a specialization in psychology. Students with an honours degree or equivalent research experience are preferred.
Faculty members will be looking for applicants who clearly have what it takes to succeed in graduate school. It’s important to let potential supervisors know your strengths.
Majoring in psychology as an undergraduate is helpful. It's not essential, though. However, a strong foundation in math, natural sciences and logic is crucial. Upper-level courses in the specialization area you want to study in graduate school are useful.
Get good marks in your undergraduate courses, especially in your last 2 years. Your marks will play a substantial role in an admission decision.
Get hands-on experience conducting research. This could include independent studies courses, an honours thesis or working as a volunteer or paid research assistant.
Apply for funding from external agencies. Some potential supervisors provide financial support, but funds are limited. Your chances of being admitted will increase if you have your own funding.
Program-specific information
These faculty members are accepting new graduate students. You do not need their permission before adding them to your list.
Most students enter our clinical psychology program without a master’s degree. They complete our master’s and doctoral programs.
If you are applying to our program with a master's degree in psychology or a closely related field (e.g., neuroscience), you should talk to a faculty member before submitting your application. Most often, the best option will be to apply to the master's program rather than the doctoral program.
If accepted, you’ll complete all the coursework from the master’s portion of the program. Once the course work is completed, 12-18 months later you would be accelerated to the doctoral program without earning a master’s degree.
Your previous thesis will be reviewed. Assuming it’s an empirical study, you would get credit for it and not have to write another thesis.
This strategy delays the start of doctoral program deadlines until the student is ready for that phase.
No. Although there is some overlap between these programs and their clinical counterparts, they are distinct areas of study. Admission into any one program does not transfer to another.
We offer clinical psychology, not counselling psychology. Counselling psychology is offered through UVic's Faculty of Education.
Academic requirements
Learn how we calculate your grade point average (GPA) differently depending on whether your transcript comes from an international or North American institution.
Admission GPA is calculated based on the last 2 years (full-time) of undergraduate study. That is the last 30 units, or the last 20 single-term courses.
Therefore, your admission GPA may be higher than your overall GPA for your BA/BSc.
The grad students we admit tend to have an entry GPA of at least 7.0 on the 9-point UVic scale or an A- average or above in their last 2 years of classes.
We require:
- MSc program: a BA or BSc with a concentration in psychology
- PhD program: an MA or MSc with a concentration in psychology
Successful applicants normally have an upper second- or first-class average (e.g., 3.5 on a 4-point scale or a minimum B+) in their recent academic work, with a specialization in psychology. Students with an honours degree or equivalent research experience are preferred.